Confused

[Unregistered]

Is it proper or ever acceptable to use the word "spelt" as in, "That word is spelt incorrectly." or should it always be, "That word is spelled incorrectly."

Very curious.

[stuartnz]

Is it proper or ever acceptable to use the word "spelt" as in, "That word is spelt incorrectly." or should it always be, "That word is spelled incorrectly."

Very curious.

I am not a teacher, but according to the Oxford English Dictionary, both are acceptable:


spell, v.

Pa. tense and pple. spelled, spelt

[Ann1977]

I am not a teacher, but according to the Oxford English Dictionary, both are acceptable:


spell, v.

Pa. tense and pple. spelled, spelt

I think those "ending in t" past participles are pretty much out of use nowadays, don't you?

Maybe they have some residual use as adjectives:

"She trimmed off the burnt portion of the cake," but not "The cake was burnt on the outside."

Possibly "A long list of ill-spelt words" but not "many words were spelt wrong."

Not so much that it's wrong, just that it's not ever seen any more.